Refuse container

ABSTRACT

A portable refuse container having a substantially rectangular or tapered body with an open top portion, pivotable lid means connected to the top portion, whereby refuse may be inserted into the hollow body upon the lifting of the lid, and a slidable compacter means mounted within the body for compacting the refuse inserted therein.

United States Patent 1 1 12/1971 Gordon....- 220/29 1111 3,739,715 Ambrose 1 June 19, 1973 REFUSE-CONTAINER 3,460,463 8/1969 Jernstrom 100 295 x Inventor: J Ambrose, 29282 C n oo 3,454,174 7/1969 Nelson 100/294 X 3,613,568 10/1971 B61165 100/229 Cum/1131111111810", Mlch- 48024 851,714 4/1907 Truelsen 100/245 x [22] Filed: June 4, 1971 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite [2]] Appl' lsolsl Attorney-Bruce & McCoy [52] U.S. Cl. 100/100, 100/53, 100/220, [57] ABSTRACT [00/270, 100/294, 100/295, 220/29 I [51] Int. Cl B3011 15/00 A Portable refuse tainer having a substantially rect- 531 Field of Search 100/220, 100,53, angular of tapered y th an open to portion, 3 00/229 A 270 295 220,29 pivotable lid means connected to the top portion, whereby refuse may be inserted into the hollow body [56] References Cited upon the lifting of the lid, and a slidable compacter UNITED STATES PATENTS means mounted within the body for compacting the refuse inserted therein. 3,625,140 12/1971'. Glanz.. 100/100 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented June 19, 1973 3,739,715

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN M. AMBROSE Pqtehted Jfine 19, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN M. AMBROSE Patented June 19, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR. JOHN M. AMBROSE REFUSE CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to refuse containers and, more particularly, to a portable refuse container having a slidable compacter means mounted therein for compacting refuse.

A problem associated with the handling of refuse is the volume of solid refuse or waste now generated by people and industrial concerns. In particular, almost all industrial and commercial firms, institutions, hotels, motels and restaurants, manufacture trash or employ people who generate large amounts of trash. These large, voluminous amounts of trash usually require the time and effort of several employees to remove and dispose of the same.

Furthermore, due to the passage of new air pollution laws, it is now forbidden in many areas to burn or incinerate such refuse. It is therefore necessary and very important to be able to eliminate the refuse now generated by people and machines as quickly as possible and to store or dipose of this refuse in a minimum amount of space.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many types of methods and devices have been proposed for eliminating or reducing the amount of solid refuse or waste generated. In particular, large compacters having hydraulically operated rams for compressing automobiles, or large quantities of other solid waste materials into small blocks or bails which are more easily handled and disposed of, have been suggested and are now being used in many countries throughout the world to dispose of refuse. However, these systems are usually bulky and very expensive and, therefore, beyond the cost of many industrial concerns or for use in the home or the like.

The present invention is conceived as a small, low cost, electrical/hydraulically operated refuse container for use in business concerns or the home for the insertion of refuse therein and for the compaction of this refuse to enable the refuse to be more easily disposed of.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a portable refuse container comprising a hollow body having a closed bottom portion, substantially vertical side portions, and an open top portion. A pivotable lid means is attached to the hollow body, whereby the open top portion may be closed and opened at will to allow refuse to be inserted therein, and a slidable compacter means is mounted within the hollow body for compacting refuse contained therein.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a portable refuse container having a compacter contained therein.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable refuse container with a hydraulically operated compacter capable of being used in a business concern or the home.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic compacter which is of low cost and small size, but capable of exerting a large force to thoroughly compact refuse.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic compacter operable in a very small space to provide a highly compacted mass of refuse.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hydraulically operated ram contained within a portable refuse container having a large area for receiving trash to be compacted therein.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to completely enclose the container to eliminate the entry of insects and rodents.

And further, another object of this invention is the provision of a wiping arrangement to keep small pieces of refuse from passing by the hydraulic ram for sanitary reasons.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the refuse container is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the portable refuse container of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the refuse container of FIG. 1, schematically showing the electric-hydraulic operating system of the compacter;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the refuse container of FIG. 1 with the pivotable lids in their closed position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view as in FIG. 3 with the pivotable lids removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the piston and scissors operator assembly for the compacter ram;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the scissors and piston operator of FIG. 5 with the compacter ram removed;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the operator and ram of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the back of the compacter ram.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is a portable refuse container having a reciprocating compacter means held therein. FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings show a preferred embodiment of the refuse container 11 having a substantially rectangular hollow body 13 with casters l5 fixedly attached to the bottom thereof. The size and actual placement of the casters may be changed, depending on the capacity of the refuse container and the type of surface over which the refuse container is to be moved.

The hollow body 13 is preferably formed from a high strength material, such as plastic or steel, secured together along watertight joints made by gluing or welding. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, the hollow body 13 is tapered toward the bottom and includes a flat bottom plate 17, two substantially vertical end walls 19,20 secured to two elongated side walls 21,22. As shown, the end and side walls are secured to the bottom plate along the edge thereof and extend outwardly and upwardly to form the larger top opening of the tapered body to allow the container to be more easily unloaded of compacted refuse. A rim portion 23 is shown formed about the top opening, and two pairs of hinges 25,27 are fixedly secured at spacedintervals along the free end of one of the side walls and the rim portion 23. A

pair of lids 29,31 are pivotably connected to the spaced pairs of hinges, in any suitable manner.

As shown, the first, or loading, lid 29 is preferably smaller than the second, or right, lid 31 and is preferably spring-biased to the open position for ease in the insertion of refuse therethrough. The first lid includes a handle 33 secured to the front portion thereof to enable the lid to be easily lowered and raised. In the lowered position, a locking means 35 coacts with an aperture 37 formed within the front portion of the lid to latch the lid in place. A lifting and sealing strip 39 is shown secured, as by welding, to the internal edge of the lid 29, whereby it extends over a portion of the adjacent edge of the larger top lid 31. In this manner, upon release of a further locking element 41, held within an aperture formed in the front of the lid 31, both of the lids may be raised by a single handle 45 attached to the outer portion of the lid 31 to thereby allow the container to be emptied. It is obvious that, as the lid 31 is raised, the edge portion thereof adjacent the smaller lid 29 will act against the strip portion 39 to also raise the lid 29 when the locking mechanism 35 thereof is released.

When the hollow body 13 of the portable refuse container is made from welded portions of steel or other metal and is used to compact fairly large quantities of materials, such as k to 3 tons or over, the end walls 19,20 and the bottom wall 17 are preferably provided with supports or braces welded thereon for added stability and strength. Preferably, the end portion of the hollow body against which the material or refuse to be compacted is provided with a hollow channel 47 secured thereto. This channel may also be used as a bumper or the like by securing a resilient material, such as rubber or plastic, thereto. The other, or operating, end wall 19 of the hollow body, to which the compacter elements are connected, is provided with a similar reinforcing channel 47 welded thereto. In this manner, when both lids are in the raised position, the entire container may also be picked up for removal or dumping by the insertion of the spaced tines or blades of a special carrier, such as a front end or rear end refuse truck (not shown), into the open channels 47 at each end of the container.

End wall 19 also includes side plates 49 secured along the edge of the hollow body below the channel 47 to protect the operating components and for insertion of a door (not shown). The operating components include a motor 51 and a hydraulic system 53, explained more clearly hereinafter. A further supporting channel 55 is secured to the bottom plate 17 to act as a stiffener element therefor.

The electrical/hydraulic system is contained within an enclosure 56 fonned by metal or other material to prevent moisture contamination (see FIG. 2).

Turning now to FIGS. 4 through 8, the compacter means held in the hollow body 13 will be described. The compacter includes a ram 57 composed of a substantially rectangular tapered face plate 59 having a wiper portion 61 secured along three edges thereof. The contour of the plate 59 generally follows the tapered shape of the hollow body or may be made rectangular. The wiper portion includes sealing elements 63 biased outwardly by a plurality of springs 65 whereby the ram 57 sealingly engages the inside faces of the two slanted side walls 21,22 and the bottom plate 17 to wipe the inside surfaces thereof clean of debris.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 8, the rear surface of the face plate 59 has a pair of spaced rails 67 secured thereto, in any suitable manner. Each of the rails includes a bore 69 adjacent one end thereof in alignment with the other, for reasons more clearly set forth hereinafter.

A further pair of rails 71 preferably formed as a unit are fixed to the inside surface of the end wall 19 above and separated from the electric motor and hydraulic operating system.

A scissors assembly 73, having an inside assembly 75 and an outside assembly 77, is connected between the pair of rails secured to the ram and the pair of rails secured to the end wall (19) for reciprocating the ram in the hollow body. The inside scissors assembly 75 includes a pair of elongated arms 79 held together by a clevis support 81 connected near one end of each of the arms, in any suitable manner. One end of a hydraulic cylinder shaft 83 is connected to the clevis support in any convenient manner, such as by a pin 85 passing therethrough, while the other end of the shaft is connected to a piston assembly (not shown) acting within a cylinder 86. The piston is hydraulically operated within the cylinder by conventional connections to the hydraulic system. The end of the shaft 83 is preferably connected to the clevis support in such a manner that the force applied thereto by the operation of the piston within the cylinder is applied through a line slightly above the center line of the inner and outer scissors assemblies to thereby increase the mechanical advantage of the force applied to the scissors assembly.

The outer end of each of the elongated arms 79 of the inner scissors assembly is provided with a roller 87, connected thereto in a conventional manner, such as by pins. The rollers are held in the rails 67 against the back surface of the plate 59. The other end of each of the elongated arms 79 is provided with a bore 89, whereby the inner ends of the arm may be rotatably fixed to the rails 71 by an elongated pin 91 passing through bores formed in the rails and the bores 89.

The outer scissors assembly 77 is composed of two separate elongated arms 93 pivotably connected to the arms 79 by means of bearings 95 provided midway of each of the arms 79,93 and a pin 97 passing through each of the bearings. The outer end of each of the arms 93 is rotatably secured at the outside edge of one of the rails 67 by a pin 99 passing through a bore formed at the end of each of the arms 93 into the bores 69 formed in each rail. The inner end of each of the outer arms 93 is provided with a bore whereby a roller 101 may be rotatably held therein. Each of the rollers 101 is carried within one of the rails 71 when the scissors assembly 73 is in the operative position shown in FIG. 4.

In this manner, it can be seen that the scissors assembly holds the ram in a cantilever manner in all positions. This eliminates the requirement of bearings, rollers or wear pads on the ram itself.

OPERATION OF THE DEVICE Upon actuation of the electric motor, such as by plugging a power line attached thereto into an electrical outlet and operating a switch to start the motor, the hydraulic system will be activated. The piston within cylinder 86 may then be actuated to move the shaft 83 and thereby the scissors assembly 73. Upon extension of the shaft 83 fixed within the clevis support 81, the inner scissors assembly 75 will be caused to rotate about the pin 91, thereby causing the rollers 87 to roll or slide within the rails 67 to force the ram 57 outwardly along the longitudinal axis of the housing 13 away from the near end wall 19 and toward the far, or opposite, end wall 20. At the same time, due to the central pivotal connection between the inner and outer scissors assemblies, each of the arms 93 will be pivoted about the pin 99, thereby causing the rollers 101 to roll or slide within the rails 71, applying a further force against the near end wall of the housing 13 to thereby cause a reaction force within the ram 57 so as to cause it to slide outwardly. In this manner, it can be seen that any refuse or solid waste contained within the space indicated by the number 103 will be pushed toward the inner surface of the end wall 20 and compressed between this end wall and the facing surface of the ram 57. Any moisture or material contained on the side walls or bottom wall within the area 103 will be wiped clean and not allowed to pass by the ram 57 due to the action of the sealing elements 63 held within the wipers 61, thereby sealing the area within which the operating elements are contained from the area where the refuse is compacted.

Upon reversal of the above, that is, by withdrawing or moving the shaft 83 in the opposite direction, the scissors assemblies will be caused to contract, therefore withdrawing the ram to a position adjacent the wall 19, whereby further refuse may be inserted into the space 103 when the lid 29 is lifted, or the compacted refuse removed therefrom. If desired, blades or teeth 105 may be secured to the interior surface of the side walls and top lid, as shown in phantom line in FIG. 4, to hold large quantities of compacted refuse and to thereby prevent compacted refuse from falling back after the ram is retracted to its withdrawn position.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the refuse is loaded through the opening when the spring-biased lid 29 is lifted. The door or lid is then closed and the container is ready for the packing cycle. Preferably, the lid is provided with a switch (not shown) which activates the electric circuit, and which, if the door is opened during operation of the ram, immediately stops the operation thereof. The container is so designed that the entire packing or rarn mechanism occupies a minimum of space, approximately 9 inches for a 2 5% ton container. Moreover, the packing or ram assembly is operable on ordinary household current without the need of any special adapters and exerts a packing force of over 8,000 pounds, which, together with the allowable travel of the ram, allows the container to reduce the size of the refuse from 3 to 1 up to 8 to l, depending on the materials being compacted.

The refuse container of the present invention therefore has the advantage of being a small, low cost portable container having a compacter means therein capable of exerting a large amount of force to compact large amounts of refuse inserted in a given area thereof. Furthermore, since the operating mechanism for the compacting ram operates in a scissors-like fashion, thereby allowing the operating mechanism to be almost completely withdrawn when the ram is in its withdrawn, inoperative position, the area within which the refuse may be contained and the force applied to the refuse for compacting the same is maximized.

Obviously numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described therein.

What is claimed is:

ll. A portable refuse container comprising a hollow body having a closed bottom portion, side walls, end walls, and an open top portion, means attached to said hollow body to allow said container to be moved from one point to another,

at least one pivotable lid attached to said body over said open top portion, whereby said lid may be opened to allow refuse to be inserted therein,

slidable compacter means mounted within said hollow body for compacting refuse inserted therein between said compacter means and an end wall, said compacter means including a ram having spaced rails fixed thereto, the other end wall having spaced rails fixed thereto, a scissors assembly connected between said ram and said other end wall, said scissors assembly including an inside assembly and an outside assembly, one end of each inside assembly being pivotally connected to each rail on one of said ram or said other end wall, one end of each outside assembly being pivotally connected to each rail on the other of said ram and said other end wall, and the other end of each assembly terminating in a roller that operates in the rail opposite the pivotal connection of that assembly, and a hydraulic operating means connected to said scissors assembly so that operation thereof will reciprocate said ram within said hollow body.

2. The refuse container of claim 1, wherein said hollow body is substantially rectangular, with two end walls and two elongated side walls secured to said bottom portion and said pivotable lid comprises two separate lids pivotably connected along the free end of one of said side walls, said lids being connected together in such a manner that one of said lids is normally raised for insertion of refuse, or both lids may be simultaneously raised for unloading of said container, and fastening means for holding said lids to said body in the closed position.

3. The refuse container of claim 1, wherein said container body is substantially rectangular with two end walls and two elongated side walls, and said slidable compacter comprises a substantially rectangular ram slidably mounted within said body and resting against said bottom portion.

4. The refuse container of claim 3, wherein said ram comprises a flat, substantially rectangular plate having spring biased extending wiper portions along three sides thereof for sealing engage-ment with the inside surfaces of said opposite end walls and said bottom portion.

5. The refuse container of claim ll, wherein said scissors assembly includes an inside assembly and an outside assembly, each of said assemblies including two separate elongated arms, the arms of said inside assembly being fixedly held together by a clevis support having a plurality of center bearing supports capable of being fixed to one end of said hydraulic piston.

6. The refuse container of claim 5, wherein the arms of said inside and said outside assemblies are pivotably connected together at a point substantially midway between the free ends of each of said arms.

7.. The refuse container of claim 6, wherein each of said elongated arms of said inside and said outside scisbeing movably connected thereto so as to be capable of sliding with respect to said fixed ends upon movement of said hydraulic cylinder, to thereby cause longitudinal movement of said ram. 

1. A portable refuse container comprising a hollow body having a closed bottom portion, side walls, end walls, and an open top portion, means attached to said hollow body to allow said container to be moved from one point to another, at least one pivotable lid attached to said body over said open top portion, whereby said lid may be opened to allow refuse to be inserted therein, slidable compacter means mounted within said hollow body for compacting refuse inserted therein between said compacter means and an end wall, said compacter means including a ram having spaced rails fixed thereto, the other end wall having spaced rails fixed thereto, a scissors assembly connected between said ram and said other end wall, said scissors assembly including an inside assembly and an outside assembly, one end of each inside assembly being pivotally connected to each rail on one of said ram or said other end wall, one end of each outside assembly being pivotally connected to each rail on the other of said ram and said other end wall, and the other end of each assembly terminating in a roller that operates in the rail opposite the pivotal connection of that assembly, and a hydraulic operating means connected to said scissors assembly so that operation thereof will reciprocate said ram within said hollow body.
 2. The refuse container of claim 1, wherein said hollow body is substantially rectangular, with two end walls and two elongated side walls secured to said bottom portion and said pivotable lid comprises two separate lids pivotably connected along the free end of one of said side walls, said lids being connected together in such a manner that one of said lids is normally raised for insertion of refuse, or both lids may be simultaneously raised for unloading of said container, and fastening means for holding said lids to said body in the closed position.
 3. The refuse container of claim 1, wherein said container body is substantially rectangular with two end walls and two elongated side walls, and said slidable compacter comprises a substantially rectangular ram slidably mounted within said body and resting against said bottom portion.
 4. The refuse container of claim 3, wherein said ram comprises a flat, substantially rectangular plate having spring biased extending wiper Portions along three sides thereof for sealing engage-ment with the inside surfaces of said opposite end walls and said bottom portion.
 5. The refuse container of claim 1, wherein said scissors assembly includes an inside assembly and an outside assembly, each of said assemblies including two separate elongated arms, the arms of said inside assembly being fixedly held together by a clevis support having a plurality of center bearing supports capable of being fixed to one end of said hydraulic piston.
 6. The refuse container of claim 5, wherein the arms of said inside and said outside assemblies are pivotably connected together at a point substantially midway between the free ends of each of said arms.
 7. The refuse container of claim 6, wherein each of said elongated arms of said inside and said outside scissors assemblies has two ends with bores formed therethrough, the ends of said inside assembly adjacent said end wall, and the ends of said outside assembly adjacent said ram being rotatably secured thereto, while the ends of said inside assembly adjacent said ram and the ends of said outside assembly adjacent said end wall being movably connected thereto so as to be capable of sliding with respect to said fixed ends upon movement of said hydraulic cylinder, to thereby cause longitudinal movement of said ram. 